Results 13,601-13,620 of 17,543 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Courts Service (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: Unfortunately, Covid-19 has impacted all our lives, and it is no different for the Courts Service, those who work in it and those who avail of its services. It is important to thank those who work in the Courts Service, our legal professions and An Garda Síochána because, while they have had to put a lot of cases on hold particularly since the summer, there have been meetings every...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: There are currently three vacancies on the national courts; one on the Supreme Court, one on a Circuit Court and one on a District Court. As I outlined to the House on 26 November, it has been the practice to maintain a vacancy on the Supreme Court due to the reduction in waiting times achieved in that court in recent years. However, this arrangement is always kept under review, having...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: I reassure the Deputy that bringing forward legislation to establish a new commission to replace the JAAB is a commitment of the programme for Government. I have committed to doing this as quickly as possible. It is important that we have a very clear process and that people understand it. I have just outlined the current process. I have adhered to that process at every stage of the six...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: I do not want to pre-empt this process but I hope to bring the legislation forward before the end of this term. If that does not happen, I will introduce it very early in the new year. I would like to see the legislation enacted in the first half of next year and avoid allowing the debate to go on throughout 2021.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, the Programme for Government commits to a health-led approach to drugs misuse. Substance abuse and addiction affects people from all walks of life. By treating the use of substances as a public health issue, rather than solely as a criminal issue, we can better help individuals, their families, and the communities in which we all live. The National Drugs Strategy,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: I once again offer my condolences to the family of the late Shane O'Farrell. As I said the last time I spoke on this issue, I understand that he was an exceptional young man and his death was a terrible tragedy. As the Deputy will be aware, a retired Judge, Gerard Haughton, is currently conducting the scoping exercise into the tragic circumstances surrounding the death of the late Shane...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, An Garda Síochána has been allocated an unprecedented budget of €1.952 billion for 2021. The significant level of funding provided over recent years is enabling sustained, ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff. As a result, there are now some 14,600 Garda members and over 3,000 Garda staff nationwide. Budget 2021 will allow for the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Rural Crime (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that I am very much aware of the impact of crime on rural communities and I am committed to ensuring that there is strong, visible community policing right across rural Ireland. The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, underlines the need for close engagement between An Garda Síochána and local communities. This is an essential feature of the strong...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am determined to overhaul the operation of the Family Justice system, to ensure we have more efficient and user-friendly family court system, that puts the family at the centre of its work. A Family Justice Oversight Group has recently been established in my department which, in addition to department officials, also includes representation from the judiciary, the Courts Service, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Process (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: Since my appointment as Minister, I have made the enactment of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017, which I know will be known as Coco's Law, by the end of the year a top priority. I know from recent correspondence received from the Deputy that she fully agrees that legislation in this area needs to be enacted as quickly as possible. I am very grateful...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made regarding the cases in Cork city and county. The Courts Service...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commemorative Events (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Decade of Centenaries is a programme of commemoration of the period from 1912 to 1923.  The Programme is broad and inclusive, complementing the on-going programme of formal State commemorations with special centenary events on the anniversaries of key historical events. It seeks to record the economic and social conditions of the period, the shifts in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Training (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, published in September 2018, emphasises the importance of policing being seen as a profession.  A commitment to continuous professional development, competence and a body of knowledge about policing, which is continuously developed and updated, and empowerment of all personnel were identified...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: Since the coming into force of the International Protection Act 2015 on 31 December 2016, permission to remain is considered as part of the single procedure mechanism provided for under that Act. This encompasses the two international protection elements of refugee status and subsidiary protection as well as permission to remain. All applicants refused international protection have a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: Appointments to the Judiciary are made in accordance with Articles 13.9 and 35.1 of the Constitution, by the President acting on the advice of the Government.  This is a Constitutional function that cannot be transferred or delegated.  The Constitutional prerogative to advise the President on judicial appointments lies with the Government alone. As with all judicial vacancies, a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made regarding the former courthouse at Boghall Road, Bray and the Courts Service...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: I once again offer my condolences to the family of the late Shane O'Farrell. As I said the last time I spoke on this issue, I understand that he was an exceptional young man and his death was a terrible tragedy. As the Deputy will be aware, a retired Judge, Gerard Haughton, is currently conducting the scoping exercise into the tragic circumstances surrounding the death...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, community-based CCTV is governed by section 38(3)(c) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and the Garda Síochána (CCTV) Order 2006. This legal framework requires that any proposed community CCTV scheme must: - be approved by the local Joint Policing Committee, - have the prior support of the relevant Local Authority, which must also...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Data (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Immigration Service of my Department has made significant efforts to continue to process applications as quickly as possible in the areas referred to by the Deputy during the pandemic. However, there has unavoidably been some delays. The Programme for Government commits to processing applications for international protection at first instance with the aim to reduce median...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (10 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: Diverting young people away from getting involved in criminal activity is a key priority for the Government and the exploitation of young people and children is a particular concern.  As the Deputy will be aware, while an adult may be prosecuted for a crime which has been committed by a child who has been incited to do so by the adult, there is currently no...